Where’s earthquake? Modi mocks at Rahul’s corruption charge

Varanasi, Dec 22 (IANS) A day after Rahul Gandhi hurled corruption charges, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday made fun of him, asking where was the “earthquake” the Congress leader had threatened.

“There is a youth leader in the Congress who has just learnt to speak. I am glad he has started to speak now,” the Prime Minister said at an event at the Banaras Hindu University (BHU), triggering loud cheers.

“In 2009, it was very difficult to find out what was inside this packet. Good he has started speaking. And there was no possibility of any earthquake.

“Had he not spoken, the county would have faced a big earthquake. And the country could not have recovered for 10 years,” Modi said sarcastically in his Lok Sabha constituency.

Gandhi had threatened to make damning disclosures against Modi. On Wednesday, he said in Gujarat that Income Tax documents showed Modi had taken kickbacks from corporate houses when he was the Chief Minister.

Later, at another event after inaugurating a super speciality 150-bed hospital, Modi likened the attack on his government over demonetisation to the cover fire given by the Pakistan Army to help terrorists to sneak into India.

“After all the ‘too-too-main-main’ in Parliament recently, I often wondered why all this for until I realised this was being done to provide cover fire to protect some corrupt people,” he said.

“Never had I anticipated such stiff opposition over demonetisation when I was planning the move,” he added.

The Prime Minister’s onsalaught came after virtually the entire winter session of Parliament was washed out over demonetisation of high value currency that has led to an unprecedented cash crunch in the country.

He alleged that some politicians and political parties were siding with the corrupt and those hoarding black money.